Tapered collapsible carton



g- 10, 1954 w. H. INMAN 2,686,002

TAPERED COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed April 30, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l 57 INVE 0R.

WILLIAM H. IIVMAN ll/5 ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1954 w. H. lNMAN TAPERED COLLAPSIBLE CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1955 IN V EN T 0R. WILLIAM H. INMAN HIS. ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE Bloomer Bros. Company,

poration of New York Application April 30, 1953, Serial No. 352,159

3 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible cartons made of fibrous material such as cardboard, for packaging ice cream and other frozen comestibles and the like, and more particularly to setup, collapsible cartons of the variety having bottom flaps so constructed as to be automatically unfolded and extended by erecting manipulation of the side walls, to conveniently distend-the carton for filling with the desired contents.

One object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved carton of the general character described and so constructed as to be readily set-up in erected condition, but which is also so constructed as to be readily nested or stacked in the set-up condition.

A further object is to provide a carton having the above advantages which is provided with means for insuring the predetermined sequential closing of the bottom flaps in case of irregularity in the foldirr and gluing of the carton.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a one-piece blank, cut and scored ready for folding to form a carton embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the bottom flap portions folded over and glue applied;

Fig. 3 is a similar View with the outer wall portions folded over in glued position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the carton shown in Fig. 3, looking toward the outside of the bottom of the carton;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are end elevational views of the outside of the bottom of the carton in progressive positions of erection for filling, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view showing the inside of the cartonin erected position.

The invention is embodied, in the present instance, in a container made from a one-piece cardboard blank, such as shown in Fig. 1, cut from a sheet of stock, the entire surfaces of both sides may be coated or otherwise treated with paraffin, or other waxes, or cellulous laquers, or other known materials to render the same impervious to moisture, vapor, water and grease.

- The blank is preferably scored as indicated by multiple lining in the drawings, to form front, side, rear and closure walls [9, 20, 2| and 22, respectively, separated by scored fold lines 23, 24 and 25, as shown. Closure wall 22 carries a se- Newark, N. Y., a corfor opening the carton.

Walls 19 to 22, inclusive, are preferably provided with top closure flaps 3| to 34, respectively,

which are foldably connected therewith along score lines 35 to as, respectively. Flap 3| is formed with a slit 4t cut therethrough which has one end thereof connected to a score line 4| for facilitating the bending of the flap to open slit 40 for the reception of a tongue or hook 42 on flap 33 for securing these top flaps in position for closing the top of the carton through which it is filled with the desired contents.

Front and rear walls as and 2| preferably carry bottom closure flaps 43 and 44, respectively, foldably connected therewith along score lines 45 and 4G, respectively. These flaps are provided with cut-score lines 47 and d8, respectively, extending diagonally across and separating each of them into two sections, as 49 and Ell, so that each may be folded upon itself and folded over the side wall to which it is connected, as further described hereafter. Flap 43 carries along the inner free edge thereof, a projecting part or finger 5 l, for a purpose to be hereafter more fully described.

The inner free edges of flaps 43 and 44 preferably have the irregular shape shown in the drawings, including notches 52 for engagement with each other in erected position of the carton, as hereafter described. Side wall 29 has a substantially rectangular inner bottom flap 53 foldably connected therewith along score line 54, between flaps 43 and 44. Part of flap 53 is cut away along the left hand edge thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1, in order that flap 43 may be of desired size and shape, thereby leaving a projecting tip or portion 55. Closure wall 22 has an inner bottom flap 56 foldably connected therewith along a score line 51.

As I desire to construct a carton which is substantially square in cross section, but which is larger at the top thereof than at the bottom, closure walls iii-22, inclusive, are substantially trapezoidal in shape in that the score lines which define the top and bottom are substantially parallel, while the free edge 28 of front wall I9 and score lines 23, 24, 25, and 27 are not parallel, but rather, are convergent toward the bottom of the blank, as shown in Fig. 1. This produces a tapered carton which may be nested or stacked when in erected position.

In the folding and gluing of the blank, as shown in Fig. 2, flap 53 is folded over side wall 20 and fiap-5t folded over closure.=wall:22. Flap 43 is foldednpon-itself and folded inwardly over wall l9 while flap 44 is folded on itself and inwardly over wall 2i, as shown. Glue is applied to a restricted area 58 on flap 43, and to a restricted area 59 on flap 44. Glue likewise applied in a narrow band or stripfiflson securing strip 26, between fold lines-.21.- anda23; asshown;

In the further folding of the blank, the front wall IS with inwardly folded,flap.43, is folded over side wall 20, about the"intermediatescore line 23 and the closure wall 22 with thezinwardly folded flap 55 is folded sover side wall 21 about theintermediate score-line25. This brings flap 43 intoglued cohesion with inner. bottom flap-53 and bringsinner bottom flap 56 vintoglued cohesion-with flap 44. .The gluedareatfl ofsecuring strip 25 .is-brought into contact with. the free edge.23 -offront wallsla and is held in glued cohesion therewith,. thus, completing the folding and gluing .of the carton in: the compact, collapsed positiomshown in Figs. 3 and 4, ready for storage and shipment to the ice cream dispenser. .Flaps .-43.and.-53, whensecured togetherv by adhesive 58, form a bottom section shown generally at Bl (Fig. 5) while flaps lsandfit, when securedtogether byadhesive 59, form a.- second bottomsection shown-generally at 52 (Fig. 5).

When-it is desired to. erect .thecarton for filling, this is quickly accomplished by inward pressure against the opposite folded edges55 andfit (Fig. ,3), which serves to separate and distend .theside walls in the. progressive manner shown in Figs. 5, (Land '1, asviewed from the bottom of the container. Theseparation of the front wall 19 from the sidewall -25 tendsto pull the inwardly foldedflap 43- andthe inner bottom fiapz53-to erected position, while the separation of:clsure wall 22-and rearwall 2i pulls inwardlyfolded outer. flap lt-andinner bottom'fiap 56 toward erected position. However, .in order to secure va strongeand substantially leak-proofbottom .con-

struction, it. is desirable thatthe bottom flaps .moveto fully erected position in a definite-sequential order and that theouter..flaps .-43.-and 14 form the outer.cubottomsur-faceof the bottom closure.

:More specifically, it is desirable. thatthe outer flap (of each. bottom section-lieoutside of ;the inner flapof-the respective opposite bottonrsection, .and to .this end, outer flaps. and .44 are each formed withan outwardly projecting surface 53 .and -54, respectively (Figs. 1 and '6). Bearingsurface 63 engagesv the outer surface of inner flap55 and tends to hold back the erecting movement of bottom section .62; i. e., :innerflap58 and outer flap- 44,. and. accelerate .the. erection .of the-opposite bottomsection til relative thereto. Flap 43. is also caused. .tomove toward erected position faster than flaprfi .by the frictionalengagement between the left hand-edge as viewed in Big. 2, offlap --53,-.includin projecting portion 55 thereof, and theinnensurfaceof front-wall 19. This tends to retard the movement of inner. flap 53' toward-erected position and causesflaplS to. unfold more. rapidly under. .the creating action of the sidewalls thanwwould-be the case :if flap. 53 were allowed to .move-f-reelynlong the .inner surface of wall [9. Bearing surface 33 rides along flap 55 and beneath the outer portion 50 of outer flap 44 to bring the inner portion 49 of flap 43 under the outer curved portion 50 of flap 44 and 5 over inner flap 56, as shown in Fig. 7.

Bearing surface 64 engages the outer surface of inner flap 53 shortly after the above engagement of =flaps' 43;and=56, and performs substantially the same function inethat it presses inwardly on the outer surface of inner flap 53 and guides the dinner portion 49 of outer flap 44 under the outer ..portion .50 .of. outer flap 33 and along the outer surface'of'inner flap 53, as shown in Fig. '7. This lerection:movementcontinues until notches 52 are zbroughtsintorengagement, as shown in Fig. '7, at .zwhicl rpointtaportion of each outer bottom flap .has been caused to move between the outer bottom'fiap an'd 'theinner bottom flap of the opposite.:;bottom section. That is, each of the outer bottom flaps 4-3 and 44 has the inner portion, as =49, engageable inside of a the oposi-teouter: flap and :alsohas .a portion, gas .50, .engageable-outside .ofthe inner, portion ofthe opposite outerfiap, so thatthe outer flaps, by such engagemenuflserve 250' flatten. each other. and the associated .bottom .closureand-maintain the bottom closure .normal tothe-side-walls inzthe erected position-.ofthe carton. .In addition, ,this over-laying and interengagement of the bottom parts, serve. toholdthe r bottom in substantially flat erected position, normal to theside-walls-of the carton.

-Nearthe completion of the erecting-movement, inner bottom flap- 53 ispulled downwardly -and outwardlyuby the outward movement of fiap 44, -.35 to*whiclrit iaaolhesivelysscured and-similarly,

inner flap 53 is pulled downwardly bytherout- -ward.movement of flap 43. :Flapz53 moves into its above-erected positionafterflap 56,-so that flap:53-forms'asmooth and uniform inner bottom surface substantially covering theentire :bottom of the: carton. inner-flaps 55-.and 53. reinforce and' strengthen the bottom and close -any gap that. might occur-between thebottom sec- .tions,- so as to afford a substantially leak -proof construction.

I have found, however, whenthis type of. bottom construction is used witha-tapered-carton having non-rectangular side :walls, asshownin the drawings; there arise. certain problems-which have heretofore. madesuch a. construction impractical. That is, when the carton side wallsare trapezoidaLtheblankndoes not have parallel opposite: sides eitherin the initialunfolded position thereof, asrshown in Fig. 1; or in the .folded position; as shown. in Fig.3, so, that.-.-.it.- is .extremely difficult-to: accuratelyguide and 'control .thetpath of the blank through the folding-and gluingoper- .a-tionseso that,- many-times, the blank would: be improperly folded and glued. .As a resultofth-is improper folding; the jimctureebetween .thefront vwall.i$l-and closureiwall 22 would-not be rmiform, nor would i the lower-edges, of walls 1 i BqandeZZ .meetaabacommon,.-point,fas 2 shown in; Fig. 3. (When -.-.these .dmproperly .folded cartons ..were moved torerected..position innernfiap 55,-instead :ofpassingnnder-outer flap 43,--as described-above and as-necessary for theproper settingeup-ofnthe bottomstructureywould be-so thrown out ohposi- .tion.-that the edge thereof --would. strike. against the inner edge. of. .flap. flit-and .prevenththe proper -setting-.up.-.of. thebottom 1 structure. 1 Ass. result ofthis-interferencebetween flaps-55: and43,-;said flaps often became torn,with.-.the resultantdamage; to.. the carton, closure. structure,.or..flap.,.56 would ride..over fiap. 43 .andslidehlong. theiouter surfaceflthereof, thereby preventing the inner.

portion 49 of flap 43 fromv passing between flaps 56 and 44, as described above in the description of the proper operation of the bottom closure.

However, I have devised a novel solution to this problem which insures the proper sequential closing of the bottom flaps despite minor inaccuracies in the folding and gluing of the blank so that it is now possible to readily; manufacture tapered cartons having the above automatic bottom closure, without fear thata large proportion of the cartons will be useless because of improper bottom closure. 1

That is, I have found that by the addition of a small projecting part or finger 5|, to the edge of flange 43, I am able to eliminate the above described interference and improve the action of the bottom closure. Finger 5| is preferably located adjacent fold line 45 separating flap 43 from wall l9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Finger 5| is so positioned that at the very early stages of the erection, and before the projecting portions 63 and 64 of flaps 43 and 44, respectively, have been brought into engagement with inner flaps 56 and 53, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5, it engages the outer surface of inner flap 56 and positively guides outer flap 43 over inner flap 56 so that portion 63 will engage the outer surface of flap 56, as described. Finger 5| retards or delays the erecting movement of inner flap 56 and at the same time hastens the erecting movement of outer flap 43 so that the above sequential closing of the flaps is achieved. As a result of the guiding action of finger 5|, inaccuracies in the folding and gluing of the carton are no longer important and they no longerresult in the improper closing of the carton.

As stated, the carton may be readily moved from its collapsed position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to its erected position, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, by pressure on the folded opposite corners 65 and 66. The carton may then be filled through the open top end thereof, or, due to its tapered shape, it may be readily stacked or nested and set aside for future filling. After the carton has been filled, the top is closed by first swinging fiap 32 downwardly across the open end of the carton, followed by flaps 34, 3|, and 33, in that order. Tongue 42 is slipped into slit 40 in flap 3 I, thereby locking the top flaps in closed position.

The consumer may open the carton for dipping out the contents by merely unlocking the top closure flaps. The contents may be more fully exposed for removal by slicing or otherwise as desired, by merely grasping the lower edge of tab 30, which may be folded upwardly about score line 29, for easy accessibility, and pulling securing strip 26 away from front wall I6, breaking the detachable connection therebetween and moving bottom section 62 out of engagement with bottom section 6|. This action also pulls tongue 42 out of slit 46 so that the rear wall 2| is free to fall into substantially the same plane as side wall 20, which for purposes of the above explanation, is assumed to be the wall upon which the carton is resting. Thus, with one motion, the side walls are separated, the top closure completely opened, and the bottom partially opened. If it is desired to further unfold the carton to more fully expose the contents thereof, outer flap 43 may be pulled away from inner flap 53, thereby separating bottom section 6| and allowing front wall l6 to be swung downwardly into substantially the same plane as walls 20 and 2|. In this position, the contents rest solely on wall 20 and are exposed on all sides thereof so that the purchaser may readily slice or otherwise remove the contents as desired. In addition, bottom section 62 may be separated by pulling apart flaps 44 and 56, thereby allowing the carton to unfold to its originalposition, as shown in Fig. 1. However, it is believed that this Will not be necessary in most instances.

When it is desired to remove only a portion of the contents and return the partially filled carton to a refrigerator for subsequent access, the carton is partially opened, as described above, without destroying the bottom closure sections 6| and 62. After removing the desired portion of the contents, rear wall 2| and closure wall 22 may then be folded back around the remaining contents and the bottom sections El and 62, thereby reengaged with each other to close the bottom and hold the bottom insubstantially closed position, the top closure flaps being also refolded and reengaged with each other, if desirable.

, Thus, it will be seen that as a result of my invention, it is now possible to readily manufacture tapered cartons having the above automatic bottom closure structure which will not be subject to tearing or improper bottom closure because of inaccuracies in the folding and gluing of the carton. The addition of finger 5| requires no more stock as it is formed from stock that normally would be wasted so that it does not result in an increase in the cost of the cartons. As a result, it is now possible to manufacture tapered cartons having automatic bottom closure which may be completely folded and glued at the place of manufacture, shipped to the user in compact flat position, who may then erect the cartons by a simple inward force on the opposite edges of the carton and should he desire not to immediately use all of the set-up cartons, they may be readily stacked or nested for future use.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible carton with self-erecting bottom comprising a one-piece blank cut, scored and folded to form four hingedly-connected side walls, each of said side walls being trapezoidal in shape with the opposite sides thereof flaring outwardly towards the top of the carton, a detachable connection between two of said side walls, said side walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer fiaps, each of said outer flaps being secured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of the carton in two sections, said sections being located on opposite sides of a hinge connection between adjacent side walls and on opposite sides of said detachable connection, said sections in their erected positions being normal to the side walls and frictionally engaging one another for holding said carton in erected position, the outer flap in each of said bottom sections having a score line extending diagonally across said flap, one of said outer flaps having a part projecting from the free edge thereof between said diagonal score line therein and the line of connection be- 7 tweemsaidcouterzflap and the respective onemi said: sidezwails. fonengagemenez with .thecinnen flap on the opposite bottom sectiomprion'toothen engagement between' saidosections: to- "delay the clnsingaofrsaid opposite sectionrand provide-.pre-= determinedsequential closing of: said bottomfiaps relative to each other in the erection of th'e carton; said outer flaps-- being 'adapted te fold inwardly about said; diagonat score =liiies- -upon relative lateral shifting of:- the side walls' to their collapsed "position; and looking-means on'tww of said top closure flaps fdr releasahlyi =looking said top fiaps-in=closed=position=in the erected position of said carton; said= detachable -'connectio'n= being adaptedto be broken' for distending" the side walls and-forrnoving one of said bottom sections out of engagement wit-lithe other-of said bottom sections "-for partially" -unfdlclirig said carton toexpose *contents thereof 2. A collapsible carton with self-erecting bottom comprising-aone-piece blank cut, scored'and folded to form four hingedly-connected side" walls; each of said-side walls being trapezoidal in shape-with theopposite sides-thereof flaring-cut wardly'towards' the-top'of the carton, a"detach= able connection between "two "of said side walls; said "side walls having'top and bottom closureflaps ioldably 4 connectewthereto at the opposite ends thereof; said bottom flaps being arranged in'pairs of opposed inner-and outer 'flaps, each ofsaid outer flaps being securedto'the adjacent f inner'flap for *formmg'the bottomnf the carton intwo sections," said' sections being located on opposite sides ofa' hinge *connection"'between'-' adjacent side walls and on opposite sides of-said; detachableconnectio'n, said sections. in" their erected positions lcveingmormal to'the side walls and irictionallyengaging "one another for. hold ing said-"carton erected position; the :outer flap in-eachof' said bottom'sections having a score line extending diagonallyacross said flap; one of said-outer flaps "havinga part" projecting from. the free edge thereof adjacent the line of con nectionbetween said'ontcr 'flap and the :respectiv'eone'of'said side-walls for engaging the inner flap of saidopposite "section-*priorto any other: engagement between said sections to "delay the closingof said opposite section'and :provide predetermined-sequential closing-of the bottomflaps relative to each other in erection of the carton, said outer flaps being adapted tofoldinwardly about said diagonalscore lines upon relative lateral shifting of said-walls to their collapsed positionyand locking means ontwo-of said'top closure flepsa ion releasably lockingvsaid top flaps inzclosedposition in theereeted. position of said. carton'; said detachable 'connection'being adapted to be broken for: distending the -:side cwalls: and' for moving one of said: lbottom sections outof engagement wi-thi the other=of said bottomssec tions "for -partiallyo' unfolding said carton to expose contents thereof;

3. 2 Aicollapsiblecarton with 'self 'erecting bot-' tom-comprising a one-piece blank cut, scored and folded to iorm four hingedly-conneetedside wall's, each-of: said side wal'ls" being trapezoidalin shape with the opposite sides thereof: flaring outwardlwtowardstthetop= oi the carton; a --detachable connection 1 between 1 two of said side walls,- said side walls having= top andbottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto at the oppositeendsrthereof; said bottom flaps being' arrangediin pairsd opposed inner and outer flaps; each of said -outer flaps beingsecuredto-ethe adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom== of the car-ton:- in two*'- sections, said sect-ions being-:located on opposite sides of a hinge connection between adjacent i side-wallsand on'opposite sides ofsaiddetachable connectiong said sections intheir erected positionsbeingnormal tothe-side walls and frictio'nally engaging one another for =holding said carton in= erected" position;= the outer flap in each of said bottom sections having ascore line extendingdiagonally'across said-liamone of said outer flaps 'having a part projecting from the free edge thereofadjacent the lineof connection between said outer flap and the respective one of said-side wallsfor engaging the outer surface'of the inner flap;

of said opposite section prior to any; other en gagement between said sections 'todelay theclosing of said opposite section and' guide said outer fia'p along the outer surface of said op posite inner flap and under the other'of said outer flaps-in the -=erection of the carton, said onterflaps being adapted to fold inwardly'about said diagonal score lines upon" relative lateral. shiftingoftheside Walls-to their collapsed posi ti'on, and locking means on two ofsaid top closure" 1 flaps-for relcasablylocking said top-flaps inclosed" position in the erected positionofsaidcarton; said-detachable connection being adapted to-be broken for distending the side walls and for moving one of said-bottom sections-ont-of engage-' ment: with other of said. bottom sections for partially unfolding'said carton to exposecontents thereof;

Noereferencesucited; 

